Friday, February 22, 2008

Deemed a classic by my boy Rizoh, The Roots' 2006 album 'Game Theory' was certainly one of the year's best. Up for the Grammy award of best rap album, I believe that 'Game Theory' shoulda beaten Ludacris' 'Release Therapy', hands down! But what can you expect from the Grammys? (They didn't even nominate Ghostface's 'Fischscale'). The sample listing for 'Game Theory' is relatively short, featuring past inspirations like Sly and the Family Stone (their previous album's intro was essentially a cover of one of the Fam's coolest songs) and the always funky Ohio Players. The Roots even gave a nod to contemporaries Radiohead on the track 'Atonement.' But the vibe of the album is enveloped by the close influence of the late J Dilla, playing a submerged sample of the Dilla-produced 'Fantastic' on the intro track, and capping things off with reflections over a lengthy looping of Dilla's Jackson 5-laced 'Donuts' classic, 'Time: The Donut of the Heart' (beautiful composition on this one... I even used it on my exclusive Tupac Shakur album/mixtape from last year). Like I said, this sample set is pretty short, but it's definitely sweet. Word to Jay. Both of them! Enjoy:

01. 'You'll Know When You Get There' by Herbie Hancock• Sampled for 'Dillatastic Vol Won(derful)' by The Roots• Produced by J Dilla02. 'Fantastic' by Slum Village• Sampled for 'Dillatastic Vol Won(derful)' by The Roots• Produced by J Dilla03. 'Life of Fortune and Fame' by Sly and the Family Stone• Sampled for 'Game Theory' by The Roots• Produced by The Roots & Khari Mateen04. 'Don't Believe the Hype' by Public Enemy• Sampled for 'False Media' by The Roots• Produced by Kamal Gray & The Randy Watson Experience05. 'Jungle Boogie' by Kool & The Gang• Sampled for 'Don't Feel Right' by The Roots• Produced by The Roots & Tahir Jamal06. 'Ecstasy' by Ohio Players• Sampled for 'Don't Feel Right' by The Roots• Produced by The Roots & Tahir Jamal07. 'You and Whose Army?' by Radiohead• Sampled for 'Atonement' by The Roots• Produced by The Roots & The Randy Watson Experience08. 'To You With Love' by The Moments• Sampled for 'Can't Stop This' by The Roots• Produced by J Dilla, The Roots & The Randy Watson Experience09. 'All I Do Is Think of You' by Jackson 5• Sampled for 'Can't Stop This' by The Roots• Produced by J Dilla, The Roots & The Randy Watson Experience10. 'Time: The Donut of the Heart' by J Dilla• Sampled for 'Can't Stop This' by The Roots• Produced by J Dilla, The Roots & The Randy Watson Experience